The topic of "free will" is basically how we chose. After pursuing this forever here is a brief summary of hundreds articles, studies and a cogillion hours of thought.Science has strongly suggested that every organism goes through an implicit "decision?" process whenever a non automated/habitual circumstance is stimulated.That is the Organism conjures up the most likely options to the stimulus, apparently predicts which will bring the greatest reward and selects that one. After that behavior the mental system considers if the projected rewards were realized and adjusts, if needed, the reward value of the projected pre-behavior predictions (the RPE - reward prediction error). Not bad for a flippin' rat!!More importantly -- is this basic "if - then - because" paradigm a realistic metaphor for future "delayed reward" thoughts/behaviors as opposed to the above "instant gratification" process?Everything I have experienced and learned suggests that it is -- despite mixed reviews by researchers (at least the ones I have perused). One thing no one seems too be able to get around -- with all of the future mental time travels, anticipated rewards, hot-cool, abstract-concrete, different brain structures for this that and everything else is that what ever decision or action we take is in that single moment -- when the CNS/mind "decides/acts on" what will bring the greatest immediate satisfaction (less grief). See More